Vespaeda Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 (edited) Just had a vision while browsing cwmodel's HobbyFan site and covering several kit-bash/scratch builders threads on articulated hands. Does everyone ever pay attention to those silvery, household light switch chains made up of dozens of those little, stamped-steel balls? The ones in at least one place around our homes that we yank on & off absentmindedly? Pretty sturdy considering how long they last before one of the ball links gives way. I've got them on my dogtags too, but I've seen a smaller diam. ball-chain available in some stores than this common size. If these were affixed to a mecha palm unit or metal gauntlet as 4 fingers & a thumb, styrene, epoxy clay or pvc could be fit over them and shaped as fingers. A little time spent shaping & sanding the built-up digits would yield excellent fingers with full mobility. A length of household electrical wire or even a heat softened paper clip could be aligned along the dorsal axis of each finger prior to covering with plastic to allow only flexion/extension in one direction. Also, if each ball on the link is too close for proper finger length, 2 balls & the interlink could be covered to provide proper "phalanges" length btwn joints. When I get off duty, I'm gonna drum up a test proto like this: /0-0-0-0-0 llll-o-o-o-o-oo llll-o-o-o-o-o-o llll-o-o-o-o-o-o llll-o-o-o-o-o Each finger viewed from side/edge on will be constructed like this: ------------------------------ <---- WWWWWWWW o-o-o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o-o Symbol legend: --------: straight somewhat stiff wire -o-o-o-: ball-link pull chain(small guage stuff, Michael's/HmDepot) WWW: dental floss, to be wound axially around the chain/wire finger The dental floss will help stabilize the wire & chain elements and provide a glue friendly, resilient mounting surface for the built up finger material. Gonna have to bug someone w/a scanner to post pics. And disposable 35-film to record the event!! I'm such a trog! Vesp Edited November 23, 2003 by Vespaeda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXO Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 |0 |0 /0 /0 llll-o-o-o-o llll-o-o-o-o llll-o-o-o-o llll-o-o-o-o cool.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dyowelb Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 maybe this could give you more idea.. here's the link for the whole process Mecha Hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Canuck Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 Just had a vision while browsing cwmodel's HobbyFan site and covering several kit-bash/scratch builders threads on articulated hands. Does everyone ever pay attention to those silvery, household light switch chains made up of dozens of those little, stamped-steel balls? The ones in at least one place around our homes that we yank on & off absentmindedly? Pretty sturdy considering how long they last before one of the ball links gives way. I've got them on my dogtags too, but I've seen a smaller diam. ball-chain available in some stores than this common size. If these were affixed to a mecha palm unit or metal gauntlet as 4 fingers & a thumb, styrene, epoxy clay or pvc could be fit over them and shaped as fingers. A little time spent shaping & sanding the built-up digits would yield excellent fingers with full mobility. A length of household electrical wire or even a heat softened paper clip could be aligned along the dorsal axis of each finger prior to covering with plastic to allow only flexion/extension in one direction. Also, if each ball on the link is too close for proper finger length, 2 balls & the interlink could be covered to provide proper "phalanges" length btwn joints. When I get off duty, I'm gonna drum up a test proto like this: /0-0-0-0-0 llll-o-o-o-o-oo llll-o-o-o-o-o-o llll-o-o-o-o-o-o llll-o-o-o-o-o Each finger viewed from side/edge on will be constructed like this: ------------------------------ <---- WWWWWWWW o-o-o-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-o-o Symbol legend: --------: straight somewhat stiff wire -o-o-o-: ball-link pull chain(small guage stuff, Michael's/HmDepot) WWW: dental floss, to be wound axially around the chain/wire finger The dental floss will help stabilize the wire & chain elements and provide a glue friendly, resilient mounting surface for the built up finger material. Gonna have to bug someone w/a scanner to post pics. And disposable 35-film to record the event!! I'm such a trog! Vesp I too may be venturing into poseable custom hands.... By any chance could you post a link to the cwmodel's HobbyFan threads about articulated hand of which you spoke? Now that I've got the reference I need for the VF-1 DYRL style hands, I'm thinking about how to go about making them. My biggest problem is since I don't have a 1/48 available I don't even know how big of a hand I'm even talking about. What I really need are some basic demensions.... If anyone wants to help please refer to this thread: DYRL style hands Anyway, I look forward to seeing how your ideas develop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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